The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-03-19
NATURES TOOL SHOP.

In his new book, "Nature's Teachings"
the Rev. J. q. Wood has discussed sub
ject not before handled at length. Its
object is to show how mans implements
and mechanical devices have been antic-
ipated in nature. He asserts that there
is no invention of man which is not an
ticipated, that all his mechanical devices
have been used in nature for countless
centuries. He claims that the great dis
coverefs of the future will be those who
carefully study the natural world. The
burr-stones Of mills are copy OF molar
teeth. The hoofs of horse are made of
parallel plates like a carriage-spring. The
finest file made by man Is a rough affair
when compared with Dutch rush used
by cabinet-makers. The jaws Of the tur-
tie and tortoise are natural scissors. Ro-
dents have chisel teeth, and hippopotami
have adze teeth, which are constantly
repaired as they are worn. The carpen.
ter's plane is anticipated by the jaws of
bee. The woodpecker has powerful
little hammer. The diving-bell only i'm
itates the work of the water spider. This
insect, although as easily drowned as any
other, spends great part of its life I'M
der water. Having constructed a small
cell under the water, it clasps a bubble
of air between its last pair OF legs and
dives down to the entrance of it's cell,
into which the bubble is put. A proper
tionate amount OF water is thus displaced,
and when all is expelled, the little animal
takes up its abode in this sub-aqueous
retreat. In laying its eggs on the water,
the gnat combines them in mass shaped
somewhat like lifeboat. 1t is impossi-
bic to sink it without tearing it to pieces.
The iron mast of modern ship is
strengthened by deep ribs running along
its interior. A porcupine quill is strength
ened by similar ribs.
When the engineers found that hollow
beams were stronger than solid ones,
they only discovered a principle which
had been used in nature for centuries
before the creation Of man. A wheat
straw if solid, could not support heavy
head. The bones of the higher animals,
if solid, would have to be great deal
heavier to bear the weight which they have
to support. The framework of ship re-
sembles the skeleton of herring, and
he who would improve aerial navigation
might study the skeleton of bird with
advantage. Palissy made careful study
of the shells by the seaside, in order to
learn the best method of fortifying a
town. The ship-worm feeds on wood,
and gradually tunnels its way through
any submerged timber. It also lines it's
burrow with hard, shelly coating.
Brunei, taking a hint from this, was the
first to succeed in sub-aquatic tunneling.
The Eddystone lighthouse is built ON the
plan of tree trunk, and fastened to the
rock in a manner somewhat similar to the
way tree is fastened to the SOIL 1t is sup
posed that the first idea of a suspension
bridge was suggested by the creepers of q
tropical forest. Mr.. Wood gives an inter.
esting account Of the origin OF the plan
for the Crystal Palace. Mr.. Paxton, the
gardener, having noticed the structure Of
the great leaves of the Victoria Regis
plant which had been introduced into
England few years previous, struck the
plan of copying in iron the ribs of the
leaf and filling the remaining space
which corresponds to the cellular por
tons of the leaf, with glass. Thus, by
copying nature, an obscure gardener be
came Sir Joseph Paxton, the great archi
, Wilmington COilegian.